Q/A with Wil Armstrong of Starneth

Giant observation wheels are popping up all over the world as the race to build the biggest is heating up. We recently had the opportunity to interview Wil Armstrong, President of Starneth. Starneth is an engineering company that specializes in the design and construction of giant observation wheels and other structures.

 

C101: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about observation wheels. What is the general process of creating an observation wheel? Where does the idea stem from- does a city decide they want one or does a developer decides he wants to build one then looks for the best location?

 

Wil: I really do not think there is a general process. It seems like every case is different. Sometimes the city is a partner in the project. For example the sitemay be city owned land and developer leases the land from the city and there could also be a revenue sharing scheme. Other times the project is entirely owned by a private developer. But even in that case, there is a requirement for permitting. The city, or whatever government authority has jurisdiction, has to approve the project, permit, make sure it meets the zoning laws, make sure there are adequate fire, police and transportation resources.

The first step with a Giant Observation Wheel is to apply to the FAA for a No Hazard Determination. The FAA will take the data from the project including the GPS location, the details of the project such has height, profile, etc. and reach out to as many as sixteen government organizations to make sure the project will not interfere with aviation. The project obviously cannot be in the flight path of a local airport. But other issues have a risen during this application you may not think of right away. For example, I once spoke to an Air Force officer who became involved in the process because there was a concern the wheel may interfere with radar surveillance of the area, he was not clear if his concern was with regard to defense or simply air safety and navigation. In any case, the project was issued aNo Hazard Determination so I suppose the wheel did not interfere. There are consultants who specialize in applying to the FAA for a No Hazard Determination.The same process has to be completed if you build for example a skyscraper building.

Normally, the local permitting will go forward only after the FAA has issued a No Hazard Determination.

Starneth always work with the developer to add unique features and architectural elements to the design. Everyone likes to have their project distinguished. We have a very creative staff and I predict you will see some very interesting designs from us in the coming years (no I cannot talk about it yet).

new york wheel

C101: How long does it take to go from the initial idea to opening the wheel to the public? What phase takes the most amount of time?

 

Wil: Honestly, fund raising takes the most time. These are expensive projects (>$100MM normally) and the decision to commit that type of funding always takes a long time whether the funding is provided by private equity, bank debt or a combination.

Once, funding is secure, Starneth typically takes about 24 months from contract award to operation but this can vary +/- 6 months. The phases are more or less 6-12months for design, 6-9 months for fabrication, 6-9 months for erection and 1-2 months for testing, training and commissioning. These phases can obviously overlap. Keep in mind a Giant Observation Wheel is normally produced in a factory and then erected (assembled) on site.

View4 Looking at Bank Street Entrance

C101: What safety standards do the wheels have to abide by? What approvals are needed in order to begin construction?

 

Wil: The wheel must meet the safety standards and codes of the local and state jurisdiction. For example in Florida and the east coast hurricanes are an issue. On the west coast seismic requirements are the bigger issue. These unique requirements are also part of the reason each project is a little different.

In some states where there are a plenty of attractions open to the public, amusement rides have a special code and agency to oversee the design and certify when the attraction is approved to open to the public. These states also have a process for annual inspections, etc. Examples of states where this process is very mature is rather obvious, Florida, California and Nevada. The design is always overseen, checked and approved by a Certified Professional Engineer (PE) in the state where it will be built.

Additionally, Starneth has a rigorous policy of checking and re-checking the design by third parties, wind tunnel testing and computer simulation. We do everything possible to make sure the design has been checked thoroughly and the fabrication quality is perfect by investing in this extra effort.

 

C101: What is the biggest challenge when designing and building a giant observation wheel?

 

The environmental conditions at the different sites together with the very large scale of the projects create huge challenges. We use techniques and materials adapted from bridge building but we are getting to the edge of what is technically possible with today’s technology.

 

C101: The High Roller in Las Vegas will be 550 feet tall and the New York Wheel in development is a planned 630 feet. Is there a limit for how high they can go? When do they become impractical to build?

 

With current technology it will be very tough to exceed 1000 ft.

View1 Looking at Manhattan

C101: Thanks again to Wil for sharing his insight into the creation of these amazing attractions. Learn more about Starneth here: http://www.starneth.com/ Learn more about the New York Wheel.

 

 

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